Registering device



Aug. 2, 1927.

l. s. DEMENT REGIS'IfERING DEVICE Filed Feb. 24. 1923 /)vv TOR. Fl 7 6 Z /5,4AC 5. DEIX'IL'NT- Patented Aug. 2, 1927. v

entree srarss rarest orrice.

ISAAC S. DEMENT, Q1? DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO PRINTING INDEX COMPANY, OF

DAYTON, OHIO.

REGISTERILLG DEVICE.

Applicationifiled February 241:, 1923. Serial N o. 620,914.

each cycle ot-ope'ration oi the driving mech anism.

} A further object of the invention to provide a registering; device with a gravity pawl which will controlledby the actuating-device tor the register.

A further object of the invention" is to provide such a registering device which will be simple in its construction, positive in its operation and which can be produced at 'a low cost.

Other objects ot the invention will appear as the device is described in detail.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a registering; device embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a front elevation oiz' such a device with the tront plateremovedgllig. 3 a plan view of such,

a device, partly broken away, and'with the re; insection; Fig. dis a tlfilli ersesect on taken nst inside the casing; at the right hand end of hi and partly brohen away;

l? 3 is a section taken on the line 5* 5 of r 3; and Fig. 6 is a detail of a portion of the spacing; bar.

lln'thcse drawings I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention and have shown the same as designed primarily for use with a gas met-er but it will be understood that this particular embodiment has been cnoscnt'cr the purposes of illustration only and that the device may take various 'l'orn without departing from the spirit of the invention. i In that form of the device here shown it co i'iprises a casing 1 adapted to be mounted in a meteroaslng and having a front plate provided with sight openings?) and 4t.

Mount-ed within the casing and in line with the respective sight openi igs are a plurality of counterwheels, 5, 6, 7, and S. These connterwheels are preferably loosely mounted on shaft 9 so that they are free to rotate thereon relatively both to the shaft and to one another. Any suitable means may he provided for actuating the counterwheels to effect the registration thereo'nbut I pre- 19.1 to employ a pawl and ratchet mechanism and have therefore associated with each counterwheel a plurality of ratchet teeth, there being one ratchet tooth for each indi- 0. mo nmnber on the counterwheelf J In the present instance, the counterwheels are ten point wheelsand bear on the peripheries thereof the numerals 0 to 9 inclusive. 7 The ratchet teeth may be associated with the counterwl'ieels in any suitable manner but, in the present instance, I have formed the teeth in-the' connterwheels themselves. In

this construction each counterwheel has I in the periphery thereof a series ofrecesses 10 which divide the periphery of the counterwhcel into ten sections or projections, on each of which is placed one of the indicating numerals. As a result of this construction the projections which carry the indications constitute teeth which may be engaged by a pawl to actuate counterwheels.

vThe pawls for actuating the respective counterwheels may be of any suitable charactor and may be mounted in any suitable manner but each pawl is of such a character that it will actuate its .owncounterwheel only and the several pawls are so arranged that-each successive counterwheel will be advanced one step when the next preceding counterwheel completes a single rotation.

The several )awls which are here indicated l by the reference numerals ll, 12, 13 and l i, are, in the present instance, formed from a single plate of metal sothat they are rigidly connected one to the other. Each pawl is provided at its forward end with a downturne'd portion or nosel5 which is adapted to enter one of the recesses in the periphery oi the corresponding countcrwheel and, when operativemovementis imparted to the pawl structure, to advance that counterwheel. The downwardly extending projections or noses otthe several pawlsl are ot diilerent lengths. The nose of the pawl 11 being of the g :test length and the noses of each succeeding pawl being of slightly less length than the nose of the next"p're ceding pawl. Consequently when the nose of the pawl 11 is resting in one of the recesses oi the counterwheelb, of lowest dei' omination, the noses of the ,otlher pa'wls (ill will be held out of engagement with their respective counterwheels and the movement of the pawl structure will actuate only the first counterwheel, 5. Each counterwheel except the last has one of its recesses of greater depth than the others, as shown at 16 in Fig. 5. In the present instance the peripheral Wall of the counterwheel is forme of two thicknesses of metal and the recesses 10 are formed by openings in the outer layer of metal and the recess 16 is formed by openings in both layers of metal. The dee recesses 16 are so arranged that they Wll be in line with the respective pawls when the indication 9 is opposite'the sight opening. When the pawl enters the deep recess of the first. counterwheel it will permit the wholepawl structure to move downwardly until the nose of the pawl 12 engages the second counterwheel -6 thus causing both counterwheels to be actuated by the forward movement of the pawl structure. When the second counterwheel has completed onerotation the pawl will engage the third counterwheel and when the third ratchet wheel has completed one rotation the pawl ,will engage the last ratchet wheel, thus causing all four ratchet Wheels to be advanced simultaneously. v i

The pawl structure or plate may be mounted in any suitable manner but it is preferably carried by a supporting structure or frame which is so arranged that it will move forwardly by gravity. As here shown a vpawl supporting frame 17 is mounted in the rear of the counterwheels and is pivotally supported in the end walls of the casing near the bottom thereof on an axis parallel with the shaft 9. This frame is provided at its upper end with lugs 18 having bearing emngs to receive pintles on the ends of t to pawl structure or plate so that the pawls will move about the axis of thesepintles relative to the supporting frame and will move with the frame when the latter moves about its axis. The pawl supporting frame is so arranged that when in its normal or retracted position it will occupy a substantially vertical position but the manner of mounting the pawls thereon throws the center of gravity somewhat in front of the axis of the frame and consequently when unrestrained the pawl structure and the supporting frame as a, whole will move forwardly with sufficient force to rotate the counterwheel or counterwheels with which the awl structure is in engagement. It will e noted that the pawl supporting frame has portions cut away to permit it to move forwardly past the rear edges of the counterwheels. Suitable means are provided for periodically moving the pawl supporting ram to its initial or upright position and then releasing it to permit it to advance the pawls. In the present construction the 1,es7,eoe

frame has a forwardly extending'projection or plate 19 the forward edge of which constitutes a cam and is arranged in the path of a pin 20 carried by a worm gear 21 mountcd on'thc shaft 9. This worm gear meshes with a Worm 22 on a shaft 23 mounted in the front and rear walls of the casing and adapted to be connected in any suitable manner with the meter mechanism so that the worm gear 21 will rotate continuously when the meter is in operation. The rotation is normally in the direction of the arrow in Fig. and it will be apparent that when the pawl frame is in its forward position the pin will engage the edge of the cam plate 19 and force the frame rearwardly into its upright position and as it passes out of engagement with the cam plate the frame will be released and the frame and the awls will be permitted to move forwar by gravity. To insure the positive operation of the pawls in the event that for any reason they should fail to operate by gravity, I have provided the frame with a forwardly extending and upwardly curved arm 24 which, when the pawl frame is in its upright position, will lie in the path of the pin 20 after the latter has passed out of engagement with the cam plate 19. The enga ement of the pin with the cam arm 24 wil force the latter forwardly and downwardly, thus carrying the pawl frame and pawls forwardly. It will be apparent thereore that the first counterwheel will be advanced one step upon each complete rotation of the worm gear 21. The center of gravity of the pawl carrier or frame 19 may be so arranged that .the pawl carrier will move forward by gravity as soon as released b the pin 20, or, as in the present instance, it may be so arranged that the pawl carrier will be retained in an upright position until positively actuated by the contact of the pin with the cam arm 24. After initial movement has been ositively imparted to the pawl carrier it will quickly complete its operative movement by gravity. In the present construction the cam plate 19 and the cam arm 24 are so shaped and arranged that they will be opcratively engaged by the pin 20 when the worm wheel 21 is rotated in either direction, thus causing the registering devices to be actuated even though the driving mechanism is operated in a reverse direction.

It is desirable that some means should be provided for holding the loosely mounted counterwheels against movement and I prefer to utilize gravity pawls for this purpose. I have here shown each counterwheel as provided with a gravity pawl 25 having a projection or nose 26 adapted to enter the recess in the periphery of the counterwheel and hold the latter against movement in either direction. The detent pawls 25 are til lil

of the first detent pawl lies always in the spacing bar 28 having notches to receive the edges of the hub portions of the respective pawlsythe supporting bar being secured at its ends to the end. wallsof the casing. The detent pawls are of such weight that they will move by gravity into engagement with the respective. counterwheels and will normally lock these wheels against movemei it.

The detent pawls are preferably moved into inoperative positions by the actuating device for the counterwheels and, in the present instance, each pawl has on the forward side of its axis an upwardly extending finger 29 lying just in front of a crossbar or lateral projection 30 carried by the pawl which actuates the correspondingcounterwheel. -The fingers 29 ofthe several detent pawls are of different lengths. The finger of the detent for the first counterwheel being of the greatest length and the fingers f the succeeding paWlS de e g n l g The finger 29 path of the lateralprojection of the pawl 11 and consequently each forward movementof the pawl structure will move this detent into its inoperative-position and release the counterwheel. The noses 15 of the several pawls are so arranged that they will enter the recesses 10 at points spaced shortdistances from the next preceding tooth of the respective counterwheels, thus allowing the pawls to move forward a short distance before they operatively engage the counterwheels, thereby allowing time for the operation of the detents before force is applied to the counterwheels. When the pawl ofthe preceding counterwheel enters the deep recess 16 of that counterwheel-the pawl structure will drop downfar enough to permit the finger 29 of the detent ofthe next succeeding pawl to be engaged thereby. In this manner each counterwheel is locked against movement at all times except when that counterwheel is to be operated.

I have also provided means for locking the detents in engagement with the respective counterwheels so as tohold the latter against displacement. As here shown the pawl "supporting frame 17 18 prov ded with a transverse portion or looking edge 31 which ex-- the recesses of its counterwheel. As thepawl structure completes its forward movement the detent which has been elevated will drop into the next succeeding recess and at this time the locking edge 31 of the frame will lie close to the inclined upper edges of the several detents and will prevent. these detents from being accidentally displaced or withdrawn from their respective recesses. This locking device is only operative when the pawl structure is in its foremost position but I inasmuch as the pawl structure is held in its foremost position by gravity when unrestrained it will be apparent that the counterwheels may be set to predetermined positions, preferably the zero position, and that they will be retained in that position during shipment or handling, thus avoiding the necessity of setting the counterwheels upon each installation. If desired, detents 33 may be provided to hold the'respeetive counterwheels against accidental displacement, as, for example, in the event the meter should be turned on its back when the pawl supporting frame is in its rearmostposition and out of locking contact with the detents.

The overthrow of the counterwheels is'positively prevented by means of projections or steps 32 extending forwardly from the frame or pawl carrier 17 and so arranged with relation to the respective counterwheels that as the pawl carrier moves for wardly these projections or stops will enter recesses 10 in the respective-counterwheels and check the forward movement thereof. s

The arrangement of the stops with relation to the counterwheels is such that when the fer-ed with but the stop will positively pre-i vent the counterwheel from'being advanced I more than one space.

The construction described is a very sim ple one and is very eflicient and entirely accurate in its operation andits operaton is positive. It is r of such. a construction that it can be built at a very low costand can be quicklyand easily installed in a meter.

\Vhile I have shown and; described one embodiment of my invention. I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the details thereof as various modifications-may occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having now fully described my invention what I claim asnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is;

1. Ina registering device for a meter or the like, a counterwheeh a pawl to a cti said counterwheel, a pivoted carrier for said pawl mounted for movement by gravity j in a direction to cause said pawl to actuate said counterwheel, driving mechanism, and means opera-ted by said driving mechanism to move said carrier to its initial position and then-release the same, said carrier and its center of gravity on the forward side of its axis, a pawl carried by theupper portion of said carrier to actuate said counterwlieel upon the forward movement of said pawl carrier, driving mechanism. and means operated by said driving mechanism to move said pawl carrier to a normal position and then release the same. r

3. In a 'mechanism'of the character described, 21' counterwheel, a pawl to actuate said counterwlieel, a pawl supporting frame pivotally mounted in the rear of said counterwhecland movable by gravity ina forward direction, a cam carried by said frame, a rotatable part arrangedto engage said cam to move said frame to its initial 7 position and then release the same, a cam arm carried by said frame and arranged. to be engaged by said rotatable art after the latter has passed said on m 2111f to positively move said arm forwardly, and driving mechanism to actuate said rotatable part.

4. In a mechanism of the character described, a casing, a plurality of counterwheels mounted in said casing forrotation i relative one to the other, a plurality of pawls rigidly connected one to the other and arranged to actuate said counterwheels, a pawl supporting frame pivotally mounted on said casingin-the rear of said counterwheels and arranged normally'in an upright position but having its center of gravity'on'the forward side of its axis, driving mechanism, and means actuated by said driving mechanism to move said frame toits upright position and then release the same.

5. In a mechanism of the character described, a casing, a plurality of counterwheels mounted in said casing for rotation relative one to the other. a plurality of pawls rigidly connected one to the/other and arranged to actuate said counterwheelsm pawl supporting frame pivotally mounted on said 7 casing in the rear of said counterwheels and arranged normally in an upright position but having its center of gravity on the forward side of its axis, a cam secured to said frame, a worm wheel I'Otatably mounted on the axis of said counterwheels, a part carried by said worm wheel and arranged to engage said cam and move said frame to an upright position, ashaft mounted in said casing. and a worm secured to said shaft and meshing with said worm wheel.

6. In a mechanism of the character described, a counterwheel, an upright pa'wl carrying frame pivotally mounted at its lower end for movement by gravity in one direction, a pawl carried by the upper portion of said frame to actuate sa'id counterwheel, drivin mechanism, anda device operatedby sai driving mechanism to control the movement of said pawl carrving frame, said pawl carrying frame having separated partsarranged to be successively engaged by the device operated by said driving mechanism to first move said frame to its initial position and release the same and to subsequently impart forward movement to said frame. r

7. In a mechanism of the character described, a counterwheel, driving mechanism,

a pawl for actuating said counterwheel, means controlled by said driving mechanism to actuate said pawl, a gravity detent for said counterwheel, and a finger connected with said detent and arran ed in the path of apart of said pawl, where y the first movement of said pawl will move said detent into an inoperative position.

8. In a mechanism of the character described, a plurality of counterwheels having teeth adapted to be engaged by pawls for actuating the counterwheels, each of said counterwheels having a deep recess in the rear of one of said teeth, a plurality of pawls to operate the respective counterwheels, said pawls being rigidly connected one to the other and being of different lengths, driving mechanism, means controlled by said driving mechanism for actuating said pawls. a gravity detent for each counterwheel. each detent having an upwardly extending finger. the fingers of the several detents being of different lengths, and'parts carried by said pawls to engage the respective fingers and move said detents into inoperative positions.

9. In amechanism of the character described. a counterwheel, driving mechanism, a pawl for actuating said counterwheel,

- means controlled by said driving mechanism to actuate said pawl, a detent for said counterwheel, and a finger'connected with said detentand arrangedin the path of a part of saidv pawl, whereby the first movement of saidpa-wl will move said detent into an inoperative position.

10. In a mechanism of the character described. a counter-wheel, driving mechanism, apawl for actuating said counterwheel, means controlled by'said driving mechanism to actuate said pawl, a detent for said counterwheel, a finger connected with said detent and arranged in the path of a part of said pawl, whereby the first movement of said pawl will move said detent into an inoperative position, and means controlled by the operative movement of said pawl to lock said detent in engagement with said cou'nterwheel.

11. Ina mechanism of'the character described, a plurality of counterwheels, pawls to actuate the respective counterwheels, a supporting frame for said pawls, driving mechanism, means controlled by said driving mechanism for actuating said frame and said pawls, a detent for each counterwheel, each of said detents having a part arranged to be actuated by the respective pawls on the forward movement of the latter, and a part carried by said frame'for locking said detents in engagement with the respective counterwheels when said frame is in its foremost position.

12. In a mechanism of the character described, a plurality of counterwheels, a pawl supporting frame, a plurality of pawls carried by said frame to actuate the respective counterwheels, said frame and said pawls being so mounted that when unrestrained they will move forward by gravity, a gravity detent for each counterwheel, each of saiddetents having an inclined upper edge, means actuated by said pawls for moving said detents into inoperative positions, and a partcarried by said frame and arranged to be moved into locking relation to said detents when said pawls and said frame are in their forward positions.

13. In a mechanism of the character described, a counterwheel, a pawl to actuatesaid counterwheel, a pivoted frame to support said pawl, said frame being mounted for movement by gravity in a direction to cause said pawl to actuate said counterwheel, means operated by said driving mechanism to. move said frame to its initial position and then release the same, and a stop carried by said frame to prevent the overthrow of said counterwheel.

14. In a mechanism of the character described, a plurality of counterwheels, pawls to actuate the respective counterwheels, a supporting frame for said pawls, driving mechanism, means controlled by said driving mechanism for actuating said frame and said pawls, a detent for each counterwheel, each of said detents having a part arranged to be actuated by the respective pawls on the forward movementof the latter, a part carried by said frame for locking said detents in engagement with the respective counterwheels when said frame is in its foremost position,

and stops carried by said supporting frame to engage the respective counterwheels after they have been partially actuated by said pawls to prevent the overthrow thereof.

15. In a mechanism of the character described, a counterwheel, a pawl to actuate said counterwheel, a pawl supporting frame pivotally mounted adjacent to said counterwheel and movable by gravity to cause said pawl to actuate said counterwheel, a cam connected with said frame, a rotatable part arranged to engage said cam and move said frame to its initial position and then release the same, said cambeing so shaped that it will be operatively engaged by said rotatable part when the latter is moved in either direction, a driving mechanism to actuate said rotatable part.

16. In a mechanism of the character de scribed, a counterwheel, a pawl to actuate said counterwheel, a pawl supporting frame pivotally mounted adjacent to said counterwheel and movable by gravity to cause said pawl to actuate said counterwheel, a cam connected with said frame, a rotatable part arranged to engage said cam and move the same to its initial position and then release the same, a cam arm carried by saidframe and arranged to be engaged by said rotatable part after the latter has passed out of engagement with said cam to impart forward movement to said frame, said cam and said cam arm being so shaped and arranged that they will be operatively engaged by said rotatable part when the latter is moved in either direction, and driving mechanism to actuate said rotatable part.

17. In a registering mechanism for a motor or the like, a driving shaftrotatable in either direction, a registering element, an actuating device for said registering element comprising a part having a cam surface, and a rotatable member connected with said driving shaft and arranged to engage said cam surface and cause said actuating device to move said registering element in the same direction when said shaft is rotated in either direction. a

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature hereto.

ISAAC S. DEMENT. 

